Kneepad



July, 19, 1949.

v F. RUSSELL KNEEPAD Filed Dec. 13, 946

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Patented July 19, 1949 UNITED "STATES 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a knee pad for use in the protection of theknees when performing work in a kneeling position, such as scrubbingfloors, finishing concrete or the like, and my object is to produce adevice of the character specified which can be quickly and easilysecured in or removed from position, by slipping it over the the footand lower leg.

More specifically my object is to provide a knee pad which will retainits position regardless of changes of posture or attitude during activework or interludes therein.

A further object of the invention is to produce a knee pad of simple,strong, durable and inexpensive construction, and which embodies aremovable cushion element impervious to moisture and which may be washedor cleaned to keep it in a sanitary condition.

With the general objects named in view and others as will hereinafterappear, the invention consists in certain novel and useful features ofconstruction and organization of parts as hereinafter described andclaimed; and in order that it may be fully understood, reference is tobe had to the accompanying drawing, in which- Figure 1 is a perspectiveview of a knee pad embodying the invention, the view depicting thedevice as it appears in normal or inoperative position.

Figure 2 is a View of the knee pad as it appears when applied inoperative position on a knee, the elastic holding element appearing instretched position, the removable cushioning element being omitted.

Figure 3 is a sectional perspective view of the complete pad ininoperative position, the section being taken about midway the length ofthe pad.

Figure 4 is a face view of a folded doubled blank with the two endsjuxtaposed and secured together by a line of stitching to provide adouble layer sheet; the dotted lines indicating fold points in theproduction of a double thickness or two layer material, for greaterstrength and durability of the pad.

Referring to the drawing in detail, where like reference charactersidentify corresponding parts in all of the views, the pad is in the formof a pocket closed permanently at the ends and be- 7 tween the same atthe back having a mouth for accessibility.

In the production of the device, an oblong sheet of cloth, rubber orrubberized fabric is folded to provide an unbroken front portion I andrearward thereof, a pair of substantially parallel longitudinal flaps 2,which preferably overlap (Figure 3). The ends of the sheet are nowreversely folded to partially overlap or overlie the pad and provideturned-back ends 3.

To complete the pocket formed by the flaps 2 and prevent longitudinaldisplacement of a cushion hereinafter identified, the turned-back orends 3 are connected together by lines of stitching 5 at their freemargins, said stitching also securing a strip 6 of strong elasticmaterial. The

elastic strip prevents reverse or unfolding move-.

ment of ends 3 and closes the ends of the pocket formed by the flaps 2,when the pad is in normal or inoperative position (Figure 1), butpermits or causes such movement to a degree, when the elastic strip isunder stress, as apparent by reference to Figure 2.

For the comfort of a kneeling operator, the pad is provided with acushion l, for fitting in and substantially filling the pocket. Thecushion may be of any suitable material, such as soft rubber, or acombination of materials, and preferably of sanitary character so thatit may be cleaned when soiled by dirt. It is also desirable for thecomfort of the wearer, that it be impervious to moisture. As shown thecushion comprises a flexible rubber sheath 8 containing raw cotton 9 orequivalent material. The cushion may be quickly and easily placed in orremoved from the pocket through the mouth thereof when opened byreaching under the strip and spreading apart the overlapping flaps 2.

The pad is applied in operative position by pressing the front flaps 2apart from the strip 6, and slipping the pad over the foot and lowerleg, the elastic being stretched in this operation. In this operation,the pad assumes a substantially tubular form (Figure'2), the pocketportion and the elastic strip bowing oppositely in reversed direction-s.The front portion I, when the pad is on the knee, is long enough tocompletely cover the knee cap, and the ends 3 lie at opposite sides ofthe knee and are held firmly in place by the elastic strip.

The non-elastic material of the pad, shown as of a single thickness, maybe of two or more layers for additional strength and wearing qualities,by simply utilizing a sheet long enough to fold into two or more layers(Figure 4) prior to the formation of the pocket by the production of theflaps 2 and connecting the ends 3 by the elastic strip. The dotted lines2a and 30, respectively indicate the folding points for the productionof flaps 2 and overlying ends 3.

From the above description and drawing it will be apparent that I haveproduced a device poswater and folded longitudinally to form at the 10back of the sheet overlapping longitudinal flaps for the full length ofthe sheet to provide a pocket, the ends of the sheet being reverselyfolded to partially overlap the body of the pad at each end thereof, andan elastic strap, narrower than; the width of the knee pad, secured tothe folded ends of the pad and overlapping portions of the longitudinalflaps, and retaining the ends of the pad in reversely folded position,and susceptible when put under stress to yield and permit a cushion tobe placed in or removed from the pocket formed by the overlappingportions of the longitudinal flaps.

FANNIE RUSSELL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date r 13691917 1 'Dessau Oct. 9, 19232,348,119 .Fridolph May 2, 1944

